The state Supreme Court takes a business-backed initiative to make it more difficult to raise taxes off the Nov. 5 ballot. Gov. Newsom and legislative leaders had sued to kick it off.

Financial disclosures show that state lawmakers were showered with more than $330,000 in gifts, plus more than $1.1 million in travel sponsored by interest groups. That total last year is 28% higher than in 2022.

The Hollister Democrat unveiled the California Retail Theft Reduction Act, which he described as critical legislation to address a serious crime that’s hurting businesses and impacting communities.

Speaker Robert Rivas seems to be laying the institutional groundwork for an aggressively pro-housing legislature next year.

Unions won major victories in this year’s legislative session on pay for fast food and health care workers, benefits for strikers and bargaining rights. Business groups say labor has too much power at the Capitol. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas says unions are counting on lawmakers to deliver results.

California lawmakers tried nine times to stiffen penalties for trafficking of a minor. The latest effort appeared to die — until a social media campaign forced Democrats to reconsider.

In an interview, Rivas offered few specifics about what might be a priority as the Legislature enters its final month of session.

After a prolonged transition, the Hollister Democrat was sworn in as Assembly speaker today, taking over from Anthony Rendon of Southern California. It’s been a meteoric ascent for the 43-year-old who grew up in farmworker housing, and worked as a high school counselor and community college teacher while serving as a San Benito County supervisor.

After weeks of negotiations, state legislators will start voting today on a budget deal that sets spending and policy across a wide range of issues affecting Californians.

After manuevering for months, Anthony Rendon and Robert Rivas make a deal on who will be Assembly speaker in the next Legislature. Rendon will stay on, but Rivas will take over at the end of June 2023.

Among the biggest beneficiaries of Govern For California, a network of local chapters — 'force mulipliers' — that amplifies its donors’ influence on legislative races, is Assemblymember Robert Rivas, who wants to become the next Assembly speaker.

The contests for mayor of San Jose, Santa Clara County sheriff, all four of the contested San Jose City Council races and the one contested county supervisor race will have runoff elections in November with the top two finishers.

After a weekend of lobbying, jockeying and speculating, then a flurry of parliamentary maneuvers and a six-hour closed-door caucus meeting on Tuesday, Rivas’ campaign for speaker ended abruptly. California Assembly Democrats decided to keep their current leader, Speaker Anthony Rendon

The current representative for the 19th Congressional District, Lofgren will run for a 14th term in the new 18th Congressional District this year. That new district pairs parts of San Jose, including the downtown area, with a region of the state that is known for its strong agricultural base and growing Latinx population.

The legislation originally called on all local entities to make call-in and internet-based options available for all public meetings. 

Assembly Bill 3005 would have hastened the rebuild and strengthening of Anderson Dam, which is long overdue for a seismic retrofit.